Training costs and available subsidies

BEFORE selecting a course to study, it’s important to find out what fees and other costs you'll have to pay. Training providers can set their own fees, so they'll vary between courses and between providers.

In general, course costs include tuition fees, the costs of books and materials and other fees set by the training provider, for example, student services and amenities fees.

To make it easier to pay for a TAFE or training course, the Victorian Government and the Australian Government offer a range of financial assistance options to eligible students.

Currently, the Victorian Government subsidise some TAFE and training courses. This means it gives money to the training providers that deliver subsidised courses. This is so eligible students can pay less for their training.

Training is subsidised because there is a current or predicted demand for jobs in related industries. It also makes it easier for people to pay for training when they haven't done any study or are finding it difficult to get a job.

If you're eligible for subsidised training, you still pay part of the tuition fee and any other course costs. Fees for the same subsidised course can differ between training providers, so it's worth checking what you need to pay before you enrol.

The Australian Government offers financial assistance for students through Centrelink. These include Youth Allowance if you're 24 or younger and Austudy, an income support payment if you're over 25 and studying full-time.

Training providers also offer concessions on standard tuition fees for Certificate IV level and below courses, for example, if you have a valid concession card, such as a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.

Apprentices and trainees get paid while they are training, and they can also apply for additional financial support from the Australian Government. They may also be eligible for a discount on their car registration, with more information available on the VicRoads website.